Cusco day trip. Chonta Condors and Apurimac Endemics at Sorayapampa

INTRODUCTION:

Spectacular New Birding Sites in the Apurimac drainage.

Soroyapampa Road and Chonta are two new areas that can be visited during a LONG day trip from Cusco. Previously one had to go all twahe way to Abancay and do a very streneous hike in Ampay reserve to see the extremely rare Apurimac Brush Finch, Apurimac Spine-tail. and Vilcabamba Tapaculocan can be seen on a four day trek along the Inca Trail.

These three endemic species are now easily found on the Sorayapampa Road at the base of the Salcantay mountain, near the start of the popular Salcantay trek to Santa Teresa and Machu Picchu. Chonta is rapidly becoming as famous as Colca Canyon for spectacular views of Andean Condor, in a superb setting above Apurimac river.

DEPARTURES:

No Departures for this Tour

If the departure dates don't fit you, please suggest another date.

THE TOUR:

A 4 AM start is necessary to make it to the base of the Sorayapampa Road just above the village of Mollepata at dawn. Here one can find the localized Pale-tailed Canastero ssp usheri and Spot-eared Puffbird. Higher up the road we find Apurimac Spinetailand Apurimac Brush-Finch. Other birds here include Creamy-crested Spintail, Undullated Antpittaand White-winged Black-Tyrant. At the top and the end of roadlook for Vilcabamba Tapaculo, and a number of other highland birds such as Andean Flicker, Andean Lapwing, Mountain Caracara.

After lunch in Limatambo, we continue to the charming village of Chonta on a winding mountain road. Chonta sits on a saddle with the deep Apurimac canyon on one side and the Anta valley on the other with views of the snow capped peaks of Vilcabamba mountains with Salcantay rising to 6450m above sea level.

Birds that can be seen around Chonta include Cinereous Ground-Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant and Andean Lapwing.

Creamy-crested Spinetail and Rusty-fronted Canastero can be seen on the strenuous 3.5km hike to the lookout point, although one usually tries to get to the condors as fast as possible. The Andean Condor with 3.3m wingfont is incredibly impressive and a must see for any serious birder. Other raptors that sometime soar on the updrafts include Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Puna Hawk, American Kestrel and White-throated Hawk.

4 AM start. Breakfast in the field. Lunch in Limatambo. Entrance fee of 30 soles ($9) not included. Porters can be arranged at currently 30 soles. These fees can be changed without notice. Back in Cusco or Ollantaytambo between 8-10 pm.